Adjustable latch



L. W. WACHTER ADJUSTABLE LATCH Feb. 27, 1945.

Filed Feb. 26, 1944 1X, 71W I 4/ W 1 m m m .wu m: w F 1 0W ,0 w/ M Ti 7 & "MW E 5 4 m H L 2 u mm 0U 10 a 1 mm H mm Palented Feb. 27, 1945 ADJUSTABLE LATCH Lester 'W. Wachter, Streator, Ill., assignor to Anthony Company, Streator, 111., a corporation 01 Illinois Application February 26, 1944, Serial No. 524,013

'6 Claims.

This invention relates to a latch and particularly to adjustable means for supportin a latch part. In the form here shown the latch is associated with the raising or hoisting mechanism of a platform which is itself movably mounted on a vehicle. Such a platform and hoisting mechanism could, of course, be mounted on a stationary support. The vehicle has, therefore, to provide anadjustable latch or an adjustable mounting for a latch which is to be associated with the platform or other raising mechanisms.

The platform raising mechanism which is illustrated only diagrammatically is intended to be attached, if desired, to a vehicle. Such vehicles are not made at th factory Where the raising mechanism is made and, therefore, the raising mechanisms are attached to vehicles of different sizes and shapes. Frequently the sills, frames, or bodies are attached to the vehicle before'the raising mechanism is attachedand they may be of many different sizes. It is convenient, therefore, to have a latch assembly which can be readily adjusted to accommodate itself to vehicles. bodies or structural members of a wide variety of different sizes and it is, therefore, another object of this invention to provide a latch construction and mounting which may be readily attached to or associated with vehicles having a variety of different sizes and proportions.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of specification and claims. The invention is illustrated more or'less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side viewof one form of a vehicle upon which the raising mechanism is mounted Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken at line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation in full size showing the adjustable latch member. The latch parts are, however, shown in the latched position which occurs when the platform is raised;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the structure shown in Figure 3 and Figure 5 is a section taken at line 5-5 of Fi ure 3.

Like parts are designated by like characters throughout the specification and claims.

In the particular forms shown here with the raising mechanism and, therefore, the latching mechanisms, and shown mounted upon a vehicle only so much of the vehicle is illustrated as is necessary to show for an understanding of the invention. As shown the vehicle comprises a wheels may have any form .of axial 0r driving mechanism and these are not illustrated since these details form no essential part of the present invention. As shown a flat platform body is mounted upon the vehicle frame and this body comprises longitudinal frame members or sills 3 which in .the particular form here shown overlie and are positioned upon body frame members i. The floor or platform members 4 are mounted upon the sills 3 and extend outwardly beyond them. A platform 5 is movably positioned upon the vehicle as shown it is connected to and may be raised by a pair of arms '6 and 1. The arms I may be enerally tubular. The arms 6 and I are pivoted upon a supporting member 8 which is itself secured to the vehicle frame. At their outer ends the arms 1 are preferably provided with upwardly turned members 9 which are enlarged as at ID to receive bearing members by which they are attached to the platform 5.

A hydraulic cylinder ii is pivoted either upon the support 8 or upon a transverse member I! which is secured to the vehicle frame I. A piston is mounted within the cylinder and a piston rod i3 extends outwardly from the cylinder and is connected to the platform or to the arms 6. Means are provided for supplying pressure fluid to the piston and cylinder assembly and when the pressure fluid is directed to one direction. the piston is drawn into the cylinder and raises the platform. The platform may be raised until it is level with the members 4 and it is desirable to provide means for latching it in the raised position.

While the latching means might be mounted on the arms 6 or the arms 1 a part of these means are in the particular form here shown mounted on the arms 1. As shown each of the arms I has secured to it, preferably on its under surface, a latch supporting part It. This part may be welded or otherwise secured in place and it is supplied on the lower surface with a series of notches U5. The latch member which is secured to the arms 1 is preferably formed in two parts. These parts are illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5. Each of the parts comprises a relatively short flat section 16 which is perforated to receive bolts or other fastening members I1. Each part is shaped to provide a substantially half round section l8 of the general size and shape of the tubular arms 1 and is provided with a longer fiat portion I 9, which is perforated to receive bolts 20. At the forward end, each of ber or sills of the body are of metal or are sufficiently strong, the latch operating means may be pivoted directly in them. For some purposes, however, it will be desirable to provide a strengthening plate 22 which is fastened by bolts 23 to the sill 3. Where that is the case, a latch operating shaft 24 is pivoted in the members 22. Secured to the latch operating shaft 24 are loop like members 25. There is one of each of these members for each of the latches and the handle 26 is provided at some convenient point along the shaft 2i. Obviously there might be a handle at each end of the shaft or elsewhere. Since normally it is convenient to mount the shaft 24 toward the rear of the body sills 3, the adjustment is provided on the arms I and when the entire apparatus is to be mounted on a vehicle the support 8 and the member l2 are first secured in position on the vehicle frame. The shaft 24 is then mounted and the adjustable latch members on the arms 1 are moved to a suitable position to be engaged by the parts when latching is desired.

Although I have shown an operative form of my invention it will be obvious that many changes in form, shape and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. Particularly it is obvious that the adjusting member might be the latch having the nose 2i as shown or the latch member might be mounted on the shaft 24 and the member which is adjustably mounted on the arms I might be the loop like member. In other words, the invention is not limited to the particular part which is adjustably mounted because either of the cooperative parts might be the one which is adjustably mounted.

The use and operation of this invention are as follows:

If it be assumed that the raising device is to be mounted on a vehicle which has already been built and this is generally the case, the steps in mounting are usually as follows:

First, the supporting means for the raising mechanism is mounted upon the part of the vehicle usually the chassis frame, and it is connected to a power means, for example, the power take-off of the mechanical engine so that whatever means are used for supplying pressure fluid to the cylinder may be properly driven. The upper or movable latch means is then usually mounted upon the body or the body frame or in some cases the chassis frame. It is mounted preferably at a convenient point at the rear. When that has taken place, it is possible to determine the proper adjustment for the latch member which is mounted on the movable arms and that member is then properly adjusted and fastened in place.

With the parts thus assembled the device is used as follows:

If a load is to be raised to the vehicle the platform 5 is moved to the position of Figure 1 and a load is-placed on it. The pressure fluid is then directed to the cylinder in a direction which causes the piston to be drawn into the cylinder. This raises the platform and if the action continues it raises the platform until it is on or substantially on a level with the body platform 4. Sometimes it is desirable to latch the body in the raised position and that is done by moving the handle 26 so as to rotate the shaft 24. This rotation moves the latch parts which are fixed to the shaft 24 into engagement with the latch parts which are adjustably fixed to the arms 1. when the latches are engaged the platform will be held in the upper position even though the power means is discontinued and no further pressure fluid is supplied to the cylinder.

Sometimes the body is latched in the upper position during loading or unloading. Also when the vehicle is moved from place to place, the body will preferably be latched in the upper position so that the raising mechanism need not be kept constantly under pressure from the piston and cylinder assembly. In some forms the platform is arranged so that after having been raised to the horizontal upper position by the power means as described above, it may then be manually moved to a vertical position and the latch will open rather satisfactory with either form of device.

I claim:

1. In combination in a latch means, a plurality of movably mounted members, each of said members provided with a positioning member secured thereto, said positioning member shaped to provide a plurality of positions of adjustment, and latch members adjustably mounted on said movably mounted member and engaged with said positioning members, said latch members provided with portions adapted to surround in part said movably mounted member, and means for holding said latch members removably together about said movably mounted member, and cooperating latch parts, a shaft therefor and means for rotating said shaft.

2. In combination in a latch means, a plurality of movably mounted members, each of said members being generally tubular in section and each provided' with a positioning member secured thereto, said positioning member shaped to provide a plurality of positions of adjustment, and latch members adjustably mounted on said movably mounted member and engaged with said positioning members, said latch members provided with portions adapted to surround in part said movably mounted member, and means for holding said latch members removably together about said movably mounted member, and cooperating latch parts, a shaft therefor and means for rotating said shaft.

3. In combination in a latch means, a pin.

rality of movably mounted members, each of said members provided with a positioning member secured thereto, said positioning member shaped to provide a plurality of positions of adjustment, and latch members adjustably mounted on said movably mounted member and engaged with said positioning members, said latch members provided with generally rounded portions adapted to surround in part said movably mounted member, and means for holding said latch members removably together about said movably mounted member, and cooperating latch parts, a shaft therefor and means for rotating said shaft.

4. In combination in a latch means, a plurality of movably mounted members, each of said a shaft therefor and means for rotating said shaft.

5. In combination, a vehicle, a body thereon, arms, a support therefor secured to the vehicle, a platform supported on said arms, power means effective upon said arms for moving them upwardly and thereby for raising the platform,

, latch means for latching the platform in raised position, said means comprising pairs of cooperating latch parts, one part of each pair movably supported from the body and one part of each pair adjustably mounted on one of said arms, said arms being provided with positioning members, the latch member which is mounted on an arm shaped to engage the positioning member.

6. In combination, a vehicle, a body thereon, arms, a support therefor secured to the vehicle, a platform supported on said arms, power means effective upon said arms for moving them upwardly and thereby for raising the platform, latch means for latching the platform in raised position, said means comprising pairs of cooperating latch parts, one part of each pair movably supported from the body and one part of each pair adjustably mounted on one of said arms, said arms being provided with positioning members, the latch member which is mounted on an arm shaped to engage the positioning member, attaching means for each of said latch members which is positioned upon the arm, said attaching means adapted to engage the positioning member in adjusted position.

LESTER W. WACHTER. 

